Skimmer sizing

[jsc0092]

I’m trying to figure out which skimmer would be the best fit for my tank. I’m between the bubble magnus curve 7 elite and curve 9 elite

Currently my phos is undetectable with salifert test and nitrates are around 10. I figure my rock is still absorbing phos which explains why they are low. I’m mainly wanting a skimmer to improve water clarity.

I have no issues whatsoever with algae

Below is a full description of my setup

Saltwater Aquarium Overview
Tank Specifications
* Type: Saltwater Aquarium
* Established Date: September 24, 2025
* Previously 75 gallon, transferred to 210 gallons aqueon megaflow (two overflows) on January 24, 2026
* Sump: Eshopps AR-300
* Total actual system volume: 220 gallons
Equipment
* Circulation:
* 4 circulation pumps
* Lighting:
* 3 NICREW NavaReef 135 Reef LED Lights (for Display Tank)

• 5 inches above water line
• 1 hour ramp up/down
• 10 hour total on time
• Vi: 45
• B: 47
• W: 40
• G: 30
• R: 30

* Kessil H80 (for sump; on when Display Tank lights are off, set to grow, max intensity)
* Return Pump:
Aquatop max flow MWP-1500 set to about 50%
* Heating:
* 500-watt hygger heater
* 3 200-watt heaters
All in sump
* Dosing pump
* Jabeo WiFi doser 2.4
* Dosing 43 ml every 24 hrs of All for Reef divided equally throughout the 24 hr period
* Sump Features:
* Chaetomorpha algae (for nutrient export)
* Seeded with copepods
Water Parameters
* Salinity: 35 ppt
* Temperature: 78°F
Substrate and Rock
* Display Tank:
* 100 lbs Fiji pink live sand
* Sump:
* 20 lbs coarse Hawaiian black aragonite
* Live Rock: Approximately 95 lbs
Livestock
Invertebrates
* 2 blunt spined brittle starfish
* 2 Emerald crabs
* 19 Small hermit crabs
* 13 Nassarius snails
* 2 Trochus snails
* 1 top crown turbo snails
* 2 small turbo snails
* 1 bumblebee snail
* Multiple dwarf cerith snails
* 2 fire shrimp
* 2 skunk cleaner shrimp
* 1 Long tentacle anemones
Fish
* 1 Lawnmower blenny
* 1 Lagoon goby
* 2 Ocellaris clownfish
* 1 One-spot foxface (4 inches long)
* 1 Flame angel (3.5 inches long)
* 1 Aiptasia-eating filefish
* Scopas Tang (3 inch)
* Blonde Naso Tang (4.5 inches)
* Powder Brown Tang (4 inches)
* Arc Eye Hawkfish
* 4 banggai cardinal fish
Corals
* 4 Duncan corals
* 2 Toadstool leather corals
* 1 large short tentacle toadstool leather coral
* 2 Sinularia finger leathers
* 1 Favia coral
* Pulsating Xenia
* Multiple green and red mushrooms
* Ultra Micromussa lordhowensis
* Devils armor Zoanthids
* 3 other types of Zoanthids
* Hammer coral
* John Deere Leptastrea
* Purple Montipora
* Acropora millepora

 

[tbrown]

Curve 7 with a dry skim is what I would do but I tend to like a little dirtier tank.

 

[jsc0092]

Curve 7 with a dry skim is what I would do but I tend to like a little dirtier tank.

Do you think that still give me plenty of capacity later on when the fish get bigger? I know that naso will probably get big pretty quick

 

[tbrown]

Do you think that still give me plenty of capacity later on when the fish get bigger? I know that naso will probably get big pretty quick

Maybe. I was using the Curve 5 on my 125 and had to dose phosphates and nitrates but it all depends on nutrient export.

 

[jsc0092]

Do you think that still give me plenty of capacity later on when the fish get bigger? I know that naso will probably get big pretty quick

Maybe. I was using the Curve 5 on my 125 and had to dose phosphates and nitrates but it all depends on nutrient export.

Alright thanks, I appreciate it

 

[tbrown]

The Curve 7 might be slightly undersized for what you want but you have some nutrient hungry corals as well.

 

[tbrown]

My fear is always over skimming and removing too much. I'm currently running no skimmer and dosing nitrates to keep from bottoming out. I run Phosguard occasionally though.

 

[jsc0092]

My fear is always over skimming and removing too much. I'm currently running no skimmer and dosing nitrates to keep from bottoming out. I run Phosguard occasionally though.

I leaning towards the curve 9, if it’s to much I can always just put it on a timer.

On a side note, I also have the chaeto that I believe is working a little too well. Contributing to the low phos. I’m considering cutting down my photo period on it some because I had an emerald crab that had been getting really pale for a few weeks then died. From the research I’ve done it was most likely a failed molt due to low iodine.